| |
| WE huddled in the mission | |
| Fer it was cold outside, | |
| An’ listened to the preacher | |
| Tell of the Crucified; | |
| |
| Without, a sleety drizzle | 5 |
| Cut deep each ragged form,— | |
| An’ so we stood the talkin’ | |
| Fer shelter from the storm | |
| |
| They sang of God an’ angels, | |
| An’ heaven’s eternal joy, | 10 |
| An’ things I stopped believin’ | |
| When I was still a boy; | |
| |
| They spoke of good an’ evil, | |
| An’ offered savin’ grace— | |
| An’ some showed love for mankin’ | 15 |
| A-shinin’ in their face, | |
| |
| An’ some their graft was workin’ | |
| The same as me an’ you: | |
| But most was urgin’ on us | |
| Wot they believed was true. | 20 |
| |
| We sang an’ dozed an’ listened, | |
| But only feared, us men, | |
| The time when, service over, | |
| We’d have to mooch again | |
| |
| An’ walk the icy pavements | 25 |
| An’ breast the snowstorm gray | |
| Till the saloons was opened | |
| An’ there was hints of day. | |
| |
| So, when they called out “Sinners, | |
| Won’t you come!” I came … | 30 |
| But in my face was pallor | |
| And in my heart was shame … | |
| An’ so forgive me, Jesus, | |
| Fer mockin’ of thy name— | |
| |
| Fer I was cold an’ hungry! | 35 |
| They gave me grub an’ bed | |
| After I kneeled there with them | |
| An’ many prayers was said. | |
| |
| An’ so fergive me, Jesus, | |
| I didn’t mean no harm— | 40 |
| An’ outside it was zero, | |
| An’ inside it was warm.… | |
| |
| Yes, I was cold an’ hungry,— | |
| An’, O Thou Crucified, | |
| Thou friend of all the Lowly, | 45 |
| Fergive the lie I lied! | |
| |
